“The anticipation for the home World Champs is huge!”

Only a few days until the start of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf. With an impressive show with lights, fire, lasers and drones as well as an appearance by actors from the musical Ludwig II, a World Ski Championships will open in the Allgäu for the third time in history.

Like the competitions, the opening ceremony will take place without spectators. One of the athletes at the World Cup will be Oberstdorf local hero Johannes Rydzek, two-time Olympic Champion and six-time World Champion in Nordic combined and Germany's athlete of the year 2017.

You have been looking forward to the SKI World Championship in your home town of Oberstdorf since 2016. How happy are you that it will start in a few days?

Johannes Rydzek: The anticipation for the home World Cup is huge. I can still remember the news from Cancun very well when the FIS Congress finally awarded the World Cup to Oberstdorf for the fifth application. Even if I haven't thought of the 2021 World Championships every day for the last five years, the topic has always been present somewhere.

Many still have the pictures from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1987 or 2005 in mind. The enthusiasm was incredible and a big ski festival was celebrated in the Allgäu. Unfortunately, things will be a bit different in 2021.

Rydzek: No organiser and no athlete could imagine that it would come to that. It hurts my soul for the whole WM-OK team, for the full-time and voluntary helpers that we are now experiencing the World Cup without spectators. But it is also bitter for the entire region. Hotels, landlords, retailers, restaurants, a World Cup without spectators is a disaster for everyone.

Some voices could be head in the last few weeks that called for the the World Cup to be canceled.

Rydzek: But I've also received a lot of encouragement in the last few days.  think it's extremely cool how many shops in Oberstdorf are decorated and adorned. After all, in addition to the athletes, there are also many helpers from abroad, as well as media representatives from all over the world. So it is very valuable to present yourself warmly and hospitably.

I think it's right to hold the World Cup in this form too. The Organising Committee in cooperation with the International Ski Federation and the local authorities will do everything to ensure that the safety of the participants, helpers and citizens is guaranteed. For us athletes, it's not just our job, it's our passion to experience such events and make them successful and memorable for everyone. For Oberstdorf and the Allgäu, it is still excellent advertising when the impressive pictures of the competition sites are carried out into the world.

How will not having spectators affect you during the events?

Rydzek: No question about it, with 25,000 spectators the fun factor would be indescribable. That's the kick that you especially love as an athlete. But we are all competition types and motivate each other in these competitive situations. If you then know every corner of the system and almost every helper personally, then that is something very special. I just want to enjoy the competitions and the days of the World Cup as much as possible.

You have been a reigning World Champion but also struggled with your performances in the last seasons. Do you feel pressure to succeed at your home World Championships?

Rydzek: The pressure in the Nordic Combined is definitely on other shoulders at the moment. Jarl-Magnus Riiber is in great shape again this season, but my teammate Vinzenz Geiger has also shown that he can win and beat him.

I am satisfied with how my shape developed. Most recently, I was able to convince in Klingenthal, both in jumping and skiing. I go to the competitions in Oberstdorf with self-confidence.

Is there a specific goal for you?

Rydzek: First, we have to see who the national coach nominates for which competition. We definitely want to fight for the title with the team. Everything else is or would be a bonus.